Are you losing your parenting time?

On behalf of Law Office of Alexandra White, PC on Tuesday, November 27, 2018.

Finding a way to share custody of your children with their other parent after divorce can be a frustrating process. Many parents who truly have their children's best interests at heart may still struggle to get used to a much different schedule of custody, especially when one or both parents' bad behavior affects the other's parenting time.

Some parents fail to understand that their custody orders are legally binding documents, not suggestions from the family court. If one parent keeps the other parent from enjoying all the parenting time that their custody order outlines, they may face significant consequences, including loss of parenting privileges.

If you suspect that your child's other parent is not respecting your custody time, make sure to deal with these concerns directly. A strong understanding of the legal tools and guidance you have available can keep your rights and privileges protected while ensuring your child's best interests remain secure.

Lost parenting time

When a parent misses out on court-ordered custody time, sometimes the solution is as simple as lining up replacement custody days to make up for the loss. Few parents are able to obey a custody order all of the time because life does not always make it easy or even possible.

One parent may have an emergency or face transportation difficulties that cause complications, for instance. This is not generally the kind of obstruction that warrants legal action.

However, if one parent's behavior or negligence keeps the other parent from physically spending their parent time with their child as the custody order outlines it, this may qualify as direct parenting time interference. While accidents and unavoidable conflicts happen to everyone, patterns of ignoring your custody schedule may justify protecting your parenting time with a legal strategy.

Indirect interference

Interference with parenting time concerns more than just physical time with your child. The other parent's behavior may also undermine your relationship with the child, which is also unacceptable to the court.

If one parent's behavior seeks to control the other parent's relationship with their child or their communication, it may qualify as indirect parenting time interference. Courts do not look kindly on parents who play these sorts of childish games. If your child's other parent does not allow you to speak with your child on the phone or communicate through other devices, it may be interference. Similarly, if the other parent speaks poorly about you in the child's presence, that may also qualify.

Protecting your time with your child is one of the most important responsibilities that you have. Build a strong strategy to keep your rights and priorities secure while you build a good life for the child you love.

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